Attachment for coupling automatic pianos or organs and phonographs together.



J. SAMPERE, DEGD.

M. SAMPERE, ADMINISTRATRIX. ATTACHMENT EOE COUPLING AUTOMATIC PIANOS 0E ORGANS AND PHON'OGRAPHS TOGETHER.

- 7 APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1908. 1,057,458. Patented Apr. 1, 1913.

" 2 MEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORIVE VS J. SAMPBRE, DEGD. M. BAMPERE, ADMINISTBATRIX. ATTACHMENT FOR COUPLING AUTOMATIC PIANOS OR' ORGANS AND PHONOGRAPHS TOGETHER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1908.

Patented Apr. 1, 191?;

2 sums-sum 2.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

"JOSE SAMPERE, OF YORK, N. Y.; MARIE SAMI'ERE, ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID JOSE SAMPERE, DECEASED, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 AEOLIAN COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ATTACHMENT FOR COUPLING AUTOMATIC BIANOS 0R ORGANS AND PHONOGRAPHS TOGETHER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 1, 191

Application filed December 30, 1908. Serial No. 470,090.

To all achomv't m (13 concern Be it known that I, Josr': SAMPERE, a subject of the King of Spain, and resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Coupling Automatic Pianos or Organs and Pho-nographs Together, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for coupling together automatic pianos organs, or other pneumatically operated musical instruments aml phonographs so as to secure a simultaneous and harmonious opera" tion thereof for the purposes, for instance of producing a vocal selection on the phonograph with an accompaniment on the piano or organ, etc., and has for its object to provide a simple and eifective attachment of this character, which .will automatically regulate the operation of the two instrun'ients so as to secure a perfect cooperation between the two.

Other objects will appear from the specification hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figures 1 and 1 rcpresenta diagrammatic view partly in elevation and partly in plan showing my new attachment connected with a piano and a talking machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view .of a prtion thereof on the line of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the sound record support with the sound record shown thereon in section.

A represents the usual stationary framefor supporting the tracker board l3 and in ,which the customary music rolls C, C carrying the music sheet D are journaled.

E is the drive shaft on which is mounted to rotate therewitha pinion G arranged to mesh with a gear wheel G carried by the shaft C on which the roller C is mounted. A sprocket wheel E is loosely carried by the shaft E and is connected through the medium of a sprocket chain E with a sprocket pinion E which is secured to a shaft- C on which the roller C is mounted.

E is a clutch of the usual kind secured to the shaft E and arranged to be engaged with the sprocket E during the're-rolling operation. The drive'shaft E also carries a sprocket wheel F which is connected by means of a sprocket chain F with another sprocket wheel F mounted on the motor shaft Fi The motor F", may be of any usua'l construction adapted for the purpose and is connected. with the shaft F in the well known manner. Thus as the motor is operated the roller C will be rotated in a direction to wind the music sheet thereon. the roller C meantime running free. Of course it is to be understood that. "during the playing of the selection the clutch E and the sprocket E are disengaged so that the sprocket E runs free. After the select-ion has been finished the clutch 1*? is thrown into engagement with the sprocket E and the pinion G is thrown out of engagement with the gear G. In this position of the parts the motor -will drive the shaft E and with it the sprocket E which in turn, through the medium of the chain E" will rotate the sprocket pinion E. This will cause the roller to berotated in the opposite direction and will re-roll the music sheet. So far the mechanism described may be of the usual kind in self-playing pianos or organs and forms no part of my invention. I p

In automatic pianos in which my attachment is used, the two end openings 13 and B of the tracker board B instead of be ing connected directly with the extreme sound producing devices respectively are connected by means of tubes H. II with valve blocks PP and ll respectively. The valve ablock ll is connected through the medium of a tube ll with the extreme sound producing device at the left hand end of the key board and the block ll" l connected by means of a tube ll with the extreme sound producing device atthc right hand end of the key board. The block ll is further connected with a diaphragm chamber I by a tube H and the block ll is connected with a diaphragm chamber .1 through the medlum of a tube H Yalves K and K are slidablv mounted respectively in the blocks ll'-' and ll and are connected to bring either the tubes H and ll into El H ltltl position of the valve.

The valves K and K are 56 connected with each other that when the tubes H and H are in registry the tubes H and H will be in communication with each other and when the tubes H and H are connected, the tubes H and H will communicate with each other. A rod K serves to connect the valve K with a lever L pivoted at L to a stationary part of the instrument and provided with an operating rod L Thus as this operating rod L is moved to the right or left, the valves K and K will be shifted. The lever L is also connected by means of a rod L with a valve M located in a valve chamber M and controlling an opening M This opening M communicates with a chamber M which is connected with the ernor by a pipe or tube M. The chamber M is connected with the motor F through the medium of a tube M A second opening M controlled by a valve N also connects the chambers M and M the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter. The valve N carries a rod N which .is secured to the movable member of a master pneumatic N mounted upon a support N The pneumatic N 2 is connected by means of a passageway N with a chamber N having an opening N extending to the atmosphere and another opening N extending to a chamber J. Puppet valves O and control the openings N 6 and N and are mounted on a stem 0 secured to a head 0 carried by a diaphragm O .which closes a diaphragm chamber J A second diaphragm closes the diaphragm chamber J and carries ahead 0 to which a stem 0 is secured on which puppet valves 0 and O are mounted. These valves 0 and O are located in achamber P- connected by means of a channel P with a minor pneumatic P'-' also mounted on the support N and control respectively an opening P which communicates with-the atmosphere and an opening P which connects the chamber P with the chamber J. The pneumatic P is connected with the pneumatic N by means of a rod P in such a manner that when the one pneumatic is expanded the other will be collapsed. The pneumatics N and P are provided respectively with regulatiug screws N and P mounted on the movable member of each pneumatic and having their inner ends each provided with a cushion N and P. These cushioned ends are arranged to abut against the fixed member of each pneumatic to limit the collapsing movement of the movable member.

phragm I fwliic'h closes the? head I motor gov- The chamber J is connected by meansgof a tube I with another-chamber I above a diachamber I. This diaphragm {I carries a located in a chamber I; valve Pcontrols an opening I", exten from the chamber I the valve I ing the" chamber I All ofthe stems I 0 and 0 tends from the chamber If tothemain res ervoir (not shown), the connection being such as to insure a steady exhaust in the chamber I and J. The chamber I is connected through the medium of a tube Q with a channel R located in a block R which channel R extends to a pneumatic'R sup ported on the said block R. The block R is preferably arranged within the usual casing of a phonograph Shaving a rotatable sound record support S operated by the usual driving mechanism (not shown).

The movable member of the pneumatic R carries an extension R adapted to operate the-bell crank member Tof the customary starting and stopping" mechanism. The said bell .crank T is pivoted at T and to which is secured a stem I on which arelocated' the puppet valves I and] :The puppet mg to the atmosphere and controls an opening I'co'nnectwith the chamber I are guided respectively in cross pieces I, .O and O in the customary manner. tube 1 exdiaphragm the one member thereof is arranged to project beneath the sound record support S and engage the pin S to hold the said sound record support against rotation. A spring S tends to maintain said bell crank T in its formal position and to return it to said normal position to stop the phonograph. The movable member of the pneumatic R fillther carries a cam member U extending ad jacent to the periphery of the sound record support forthe purpose to be more fully (loscribed hereinafter.

V- is a catch pivoted at V on the block R and adapted to engage the said movable member of the pneumatic R to hold it in its collapsed condition. The said catch is pressed toward the pneumatic R by a leaf spring V and is further provided with a finger piece V for disengaging it from the pneumaticR A levcrVV is pivoted at W to a block suitably secured to the casing of the phonegraph and carrying at its one end a roller W and at its other end a valve V This lever is supported so that the roller W en.-

- gages the periphery of the sound record sup port 5, Whichis provided with a projection S extending partly around said periphery to periodically swing the said lever W on its pivot. The valve end of the. lever W is 10- rated opposite the end of a channel W which extends through the block W and is connected by means of a tube W with the diaphragm chamber J. A spring W maintains the roller V in engagement with the periphery of the. support S. The record disks which are used in conjunction with my improved attachment are preferably provided with a recess X extending toward the periphery of the record X from the beginning of the sound groove in said record, in the direction in which the record rotates. This recess is arranged to receive the stylus and guide it to the sound groove, as the record is rotated. The records are further preferably provided with an opening X arranged to one, side of the usual central" aperture and adapted to take over a pin S secured to the support S for positioning the record thereon. The music sheet D at a point along its one edge corresponding with the opening B of the tracker board B, is provided with a series'of spaced apertures D and at the other edge opposite the beginning of the selection has a single opening 1) adapted to register with the opening B of the tracker board B.

In operation, if it is desired to play the two instruments simultaneously and harmoniously, the operating rod L is moved toward the right in Fig. 1 thus swinging the lever-L on its pivot L. This will cause the valves K and K to assume the position slmwn in Fig. 1 and establish communication between the tubes H and H and between the tubes H and H At the same time the valve M is moved over the opening M" to completely close it so that the air from the motor is exhausted through the tube M", chamber 1V opening M chamber M and tube M5 The passage from the motor governor to the motor is thus controlled by the valve N. As the motor now drives the roll C, the music sheet will be gradually wound thereon and the. moment the opening 1) comes over the opening B of the tracker, air will rush into the tube H and H and into the diaphragm chamber I, causing the diaphragm to be lifted and the valves I and I to be raised. This will close the opening I and shut off communication between the chamber 1 and the atmosphere and will open the opening 1 and establish communi-- cation. between the chamber 1 and I The air in the chamber 1 having meanwhile been exhausted through the pumping of the usual pedals and bellows the air will be drawn from the chamber 1", the tube Q, and channel R and the pneumatic R will be 001- lapsed. =As this takes place the projection R will swing the bell crank T away from the pin S leaving the sound record support free to be rotated by the usual driving mechanism. Further as the said pneumatic collapses the cam member U will engage the periphery of said sound record support and willexert a sudden push thereon, and immediately start the support rotating at the maximum speed at which the mechanism is set. This'does away with the customary gradual starting of the phonograph. It is of course to be understood that the sound record has been placed in position on the support before this with the stylus in the recess X. Both selections are thus automatically started simultaneously. Through the medium of the tube 1 the air in the chamber J is also exhausted as long as the pedals are operated. Meanwhile as the openings D pass successively over the opening B of the tracker air rushes through the tubes H and H and causes the diaphragm to move up and' down alternately raising and lowering the valves O and O and opening and closing the openings P and 1. At the same time as the sound. record e -pport is rotated, the projection S each time it comes around and passes, will swing the lever \V on its pivot and will open and close the channel Air will. thus rush in in short gusts through the channel and the tube TV to the diaphragm chamber J and will cause the diaphragm O to move up and down and raise and lower the valves 0 and O and alternately open and close the openings N and N 'lhe pncumatics X and P will thus be alternately subjected to the influence of atmospheric pres ure and of the exhaust in the chamber J through the channels N and 1 As long as the speed of the two instruments is the same this will have no appreciable effect on the valve N. lf, however, the speed of the phonograph is greater than that of the piano, the projection S will come around with greater rapidity and the lever \V and valve V will be operated ofteuer in a given time. The

channel W will therefore be open practically continuously and the valve 0 will be held in its raised position so that the air in the pneumatic N will be more nearly exhausted and the said pneumatic will overcome the resistance of the pneumatic 1 and will collapse, thus moving the valve N further to the left in Fig. 1 and uncovering the opening M to a'greater extent. This will cause the motor F to travel faster until the speed of the piano agrees with that of the phonograph. In the same way if the speed of the piano exceeds that of the phonograph, the openings 1) will travel over the opening 13 with greater rapidity and the valve U will be maintained in its raised position a greater length of time. The air in the pneumatic P will thus be more nearly exhausted and the pneumatic will collapse and overcome the resistance of the pneumatic N which is at this time not exhausted. The valve N will by this operation be moved furthcr to the right in Fig. 1 and will more nearly cover the opening M and will cause the motor' to slow down until the two speeds again agree. As soon as the projection S has again operated the valve \V" the I selection.

' time the valve W gthe piano from continuing to run at its temporarily decreased speed and thus- @ntinueto 11m behind the phonograph throughout the Each time after the pneumatic P has been operated to move .the valve N to the right in Fig. lgthe penumatic X will return said valve to its initial position the moment the projection operates the valve ll.

It is to be understood that the speed of the phonograph is substantially uniform throughout the selection and that the speed of the piano is-regulated accordingly. In other words the speed of the phonograph is the governing speed and the piano speed is made to accommodate itself thereto. It is to be further understood that the projection S extends about oncsi.'th of the distance around the periphery of the sound record support andthat the dimensions of each opening D is such that it will remain over the opening B as long as the said projection operates the valve W'". The distance between the openings D corresponds to the remaining five-sixths of the periphery of the sound record support. The openings D- are so located relatively to the opening Df that when the instruments are started the first opening D will travel over the opening B an instant betore the projection opens the valve XV; each succeeding opening I) will accordingly travel over the said opening 15 a trifle in advance of the is operated. The two pncumatics N and l are thus operated one after the othcr so that in the operation oi the mechanism the valve N will he spas modically moved back and forth to a slight. dcgree as the instruments run in harmony. 'lhcpneumatic N is larger and of greater power than the PHCHII'HIl'iO 1 and is operated an instant later as bctorc stated and 'not simultaneously therewith so that thetcndency of the pneumatic N to force the valve N to the right: in Fig. 1 and thus retard the motor is overcome. It the openings D and the projection S worked simultaneously there would be danger of one of the openings 1) continuing over the opening B after the projection S had ceased to maintain the valve \V" in its open position, which would cause the pneumatic P to be collapsed and overcome the pneumatic, N and the valve N vo be moved to the right thus diminishing the speed of the piano at the wrong time. In the present construction after the piano has been slowed down, the valve W will be operated as described above which will cause the masterpneumatic N to collapse and move the valve to the left in Fi 1. v The opening M will thus he expose to a gre extent and the raw two instruments lo: and K accuses tor F will increase in speed and the speed of the music sheet D until the speeds of the again agree.

The regulating screws N and P are provided for the purpose of regulating the collapse ot" the pneumatics N ant P so as .to secure a proper cooperation of the said pneumetics and the valve N. the two instruments is thus regulated and governed so that it is impossible for one to run ahead of the other for any noticeable length ot' time and absolute harmony in the operation of the two instru ments is secured. v I When it is desired to use the automatic piano without the phonograph, the rod L is moved to the left. This will cause the valves and M to be moved to the right and will establish communication between the tubes H and H and the tubes H and T The openings B of the parts communicate respectively with. the extreme sound producing devices. YVith my device it is therefore possible to easily and simply couple the two instruments together and to automatically secure perfect cooperation between the two without the necessity for the adjustment of intricate mechanism.

Instead of having the openings B and B connected respectively with the valve blocks H and H these openings may be com'iected directly with the first and last note of the action as is custoniary and additional openings may be provided in the tracker board adjacent to the openings B and B with which the blocks H and H The speed of automatically might be connected. Tn this case the 'alvcs K would be constructed to connect and disconnect the tubes H and ll" and Tl" and H respectively. The structure described hereinlmlorc may be easily installed in existing cm'istruct'ions of pianos and phonographs without material change and dillicultv- I have connected the two opposite eX- trcme openings l3 and B of the tracker board with valve blocks H and H respec tivcly as this is an easy' and simple method of applying my improvement to existing structures without necessitating radical changes.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of two musical instruments. meumatic mechanism for driving one instrument, independent mechanic: l means for driving the other instrument, and means connecting the two instruments including mechanism controlled by said mespeed or" the pneumatic mechanism.

he combination of two musical inand B Will-in this position 5 pneiunatic mechanisui for driv-m mechanical mg one instrument, independent means for driving the other instrument and and 'a phonograph provided with a rotatable sound record support. means connecting the two instruments including mechanism fdr regulating the speed of one instrumtuit relativelvto that of the other and means actuated by said sound record support for controlling said mechanism.

-t. The coInbiua-tion of an automatic piano and a phonograph. a connection between the two. mechanism for simultgt-eouslv starting the two instruments together and pneumatic means for immediatelv starting the phonograph at the maximum speed atwhich it is set.

5.-The combination of an automatic piano and a phonograph. a motor for operating said piano, a speed regulating mechanism connected with said motor, a connection from saidspeed regulatingmechanism to said phonograph and a valve automatically op erated by said phonograph to control said speed regulating mechanism to regulate the speed of. the piano.

.3. The combination of an automatic piano and a phonograph, a motor for operating said piano, mechanism for driving said linotor, a valve chest with which said motor and said'driving mechanism are connected, a valve in said valve chest governing the connection between the driving mechanism and the valve chest, pneumatic means controlling said valve and mechanism connected with and operated by said phonograph for controlling said pneumatic means to shift said valve in one direction or the other to regulate the speed of said motor.

7. The combination of an automaticpiano. and a phonograph having a rotatable sound record support, a connection between the two. pneumatic means in said connection for controlling the speed of the piano, and a valve operated by said soumlrecord support and controlling said pneumatic means.

8. The combination of an automatic piano and a phonograph having a rotatable sound record support, a connection between the two, pneumatic means in said connection for controlling the speed of the piano, a valve for controlling said pneumatic means and a projection on said sound recordsupport for operating said valve. L

9. The combination of an automatic piano and a phonograph having a rotatable sound record support, a-connection between the two, mechanism for simultaneously starting both instruments and a device arranged to engage the periphery of said sound record support to inunediately start the phonograph at the maximum speed at which it is set.

10. The combination of an automatic piano having a tracker board and an action. and a phonograph, a valve block. a connection from said valve block to the tracker board, a second connection from said block to the action, a third connection from said 'alve block to'the phonogra 'ih and a valvemovable in said block to bring either the first and second connections into communication with each other or to bring said tirst and third connections into communication with each other.

11. The combination of an automatic piano and a phonograph operativelv connected therewith and having a rotatable sound record support, pneumatic means for controlling the speed of the piano and means operated by said sound record support for controlling said pneumatic means.

12. The combination of an automatic piano and'a phonograph operatively connected therewith, pneumatic means for controlling the speed of the piano, a valve for controlling said pneumatic means and means connect ed with said phonograph for=--operating said valve.

1,3. The combination of two musical instr'iunents, pneumatic mechanism for driving one instrument, independent mechanical means for driving the other instrument, a connection between the two instruments, means in said connection operated by said mechanical driving means for regulating the speed of the pneumatic mechanism, and a device for disconnectingthe two instruments without affecting the separate operation of either or necessitating the disengagement of said instruments.

14. The combination of an automatic piano and'a phonograph connected together to work in unison. a tracker board in sa1cmusic sheet provided with an aperture arranged for cooperation with the tracker board to control the operation of said alve in the valve chest.

15. The combination. of an automatic piano and a phonograph connected together to work in unison, a tracker board in said piano, a valve chest having a. pneumatic operation with the valve in the valve chest.

driving mechanism connected therewith, pneumatic means for controlling the speed 15 l theinusical instrument, and means operated by said driving mechanism for controlling said pneumatic means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribin 20 witnesses. I?

power containing chamber, a connection from said valve chest to the tracker board, a device for giving an impetus to the phone; graph, a connection from said valve,chest to said device, a valve in said valvfe'z lchestv arranged to connect or disconnect" said power containing chamber with or-fr'om said device to operate same, and'a music'sheet provided with an aperture arranged for c0- the tracker board to control l JOSE SAMPERE. l

I WVitnesses:

JOHN A. KEnLENBEcK, JOHN LOTKA.

16. The combination" of an automatic musical instrument and a phonograph having Copies of this patent niay be obtained for in: centsfeach, by addressing the Commissioner 01? Patents 1 Washington, D. C. 

